Chapter 2:The Hunt Begins
Kai Jin gritted his teeth as he landed on the fire escape, his heart pounding in his chest. The cold metal groaned under his weight, but he had no time to hesitate. His apartment door had just been broken down, and the system's warning echoed in his mind.
Warning: Monsters detected nearby. Rank F. Multiple threats incoming.
He peered through the dusty window into his apartment. Shadows moved inside—more goblins, at least two or three. Their guttural growls sent chills down his spine. If he had stayed, he would've been overwhelmed. His breath was steady, but his fingers clenched tightly around the goblin's dagger he had just received as a reward. The blade was small, crude, and chipped along the edges, but right now, it was his only weapon.
Below, the streets were in chaos. Screams filled the night as car alarms blared. A thick, dark fog rolled through the city, illuminated by flickering streetlights. More portals must have opened nearby, spilling creatures into the streets.
Kai took a deep breath. Running was an option—but deep down, he knew that survival wasn't just about escaping. The system had given him a dagger, a skill, and a quest. That meant one thing: fighting back was possible.
A metallic clang from above snapped him to attention. Something was moving on the rooftop.
Kai pressed himself against the fire escape railing and looked up. A pair of glowing red eyes peered down at him through the darkness. Another goblin. This one was crouched on the roof, gripping the ledge with clawed fingers. It snarled, revealing jagged teeth, before leaping straight at him.
Move.
Kai's body reacted on instinct. He twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding the goblin's outstretched claws as it crashed onto the fire escape, rattling the metal structure violently. Without thinking, Kai drove his dagger forward, aiming for the creature's throat.
The goblin shrieked and jerked back, but the blade still slashed across its chest, spilling dark, foul-smelling blood. It staggered, hissing in pain.
New notification:
- Attack Landed: 10 XP gained.
- Goblin (Rank F) health: 60% remaining.
Kai didn't stop to celebrate. He lunged again, this time aiming for its eye. But the goblin was faster than the last one. It ducked, swiping at Kai's ribs.
Pain flared as the claws grazed his side, tearing through his shirt. He winced but didn't let it slow him down.
New notification:
- Damage Taken: -5 HP. Current Health: 95%.
"Great," he muttered under his breath. "It really is like a game."
The goblin snarled and lunged again. But this time, Kai was ready. He dropped low, letting the creature's claws swipe over his head, then thrust his dagger upward—right into its chin.
The blade sank deep. The goblin's body went rigid, and for a moment, its glowing red eyes flickered. Then, with a final gurgling gasp, it slumped forward.
New notification:
- Goblin (Rank F) defeated.
- 50 XP gained.
- New item acquired: Goblin's Leather Scrap (Rank F).
Kai exhaled sharply and shoved the creature's corpse off him, letting it tumble down the fire escape to the alley below. His hands were trembling—not from fear, but from the sheer adrenaline coursing through him.
He checked his system window. His XP bar had increased slightly, but he was still far from leveling up. That meant he had a long way to go before getting stronger.
The sound of movement from his apartment reminded him that he wasn't safe yet. The goblins inside had heard the fight. They were coming.
Kai gripped his dagger and glanced at the street below. A group of survivors was running, chased by more creatures—wolves, their fur black as ink, their eyes glowing the same eerie red as the goblins. One of the creatures lunged, dragging a man to the ground. His screams were cut short as blood pooled beneath him.
Kai clenched his jaw.
Quest Updated: Survive the Awakening.
Objective: Eliminate 3 more Rank F monsters.
The system was pushing him to fight. He knew he could try to escape, but something inside him resisted the thought of running. Maybe it was the years of helplessness, the feeling of being powerless his whole life. Now, he had a chance to change that.
His grip on the dagger tightened.
If the system wanted him to fight, then he would fight.
Kai's breath was steady despite the pounding in his chest. His body was still adjusting to the rush of adrenaline, but his mind remained sharp. He had a choice—run or fight. But the system had given him a quest, and something deep inside told him that survival wasn't about hiding. It was about proving he could stand his ground.
His grip on the goblin's dagger tightened as the sound of shuffling feet and guttural snarls grew louder inside his apartment. The goblins inside had heard the struggle on the fire escape. They were coming.
Objective: Eliminate 3 more Rank F monsters.
Kai's fingers twitched. Three more. He could do this.
A goblin stepped through the broken doorway of his apartment and onto the fire escape. It was smaller than the last one, its hunched body twitching as it sniffed the air. Its bloodshot eyes locked onto Kai, and its lips curled into a toothy grin. A crude, rusted knife gleamed in its clawed hand.
Then, another appeared behind it. And another.
Three goblins.
They chattered in their strange, guttural language before their grins widened. One of them shrieked, and in an instant, they lunged.
Kai moved.
The first goblin swung its rusted knife at him, but he twisted his body just in time. The blade scraped against the fire escape railing, sending sparks into the night. Without hesitation, Kai slashed his own dagger upward, slicing the goblin's throat.
A spray of dark blood splattered against the metal as the creature gurgled and collapsed.
New notification:
- Goblin (Rank F) defeated.
- 50 XP gained.
- New item acquired: Goblin's Rusted Knife (Rank F).
Kai barely had time to process the notification before the second goblin lunged at him. It was faster than the first, its claws aimed straight for his chest.
Kai had no time to dodge. Instead, he raised his arm—pain flared as sharp nails tore into his forearm.
New notification:
- Damage Taken: -8 HP. Current Health: 87%.
Gritting his teeth, Kai ignored the pain and drove his knee into the goblin's stomach. The creature wheezed, momentarily stunned. That was all the time he needed.
He grabbed the rusted knife from the first goblin's corpse and, in a swift motion, stabbed it deep into the second goblin's eye.
The creature howled in agony, thrashing as blood poured from the wound. Kai wrenched the blade free and kicked the goblin off the fire escape. Its body tumbled down, crashing into the alley below.
New notification:
- Goblin (Rank F) defeated.
- 50 XP gained.
- New item acquired: Goblin's Claw (Rank F).
Kai's chest heaved as he turned to face the last goblin.
The final one hesitated. It had seen what happened to its companions. Fear crept into its glowing red eyes.
Kai wiped the blood off his dagger and took a step forward. "What's wrong?" His voice was cold. "Not so eager to fight anymore?"
The goblin shrieked in frustration and charged.
Kai didn't move until the last second. Then he sidestepped.
The goblin stumbled past him, and before it could recover, he brought both of his weapons down—one dagger slicing into its shoulder, the other stabbing into its back.
The goblin let out a strangled gasp, its body twitching before going limp.
New notification:
- Goblin (Rank F) defeated.
- 50 XP gained.
Quest Completed: Survive the Awakening.
Reward Unlocked:
- Skill Acquired: Quick Step (Level 1)
- Item Acquired: Minor Healing Potion (x1)
Kai stood there for a moment, breathing heavily. He had done it.
His body ached, his arm throbbed from the wound, and his clothes were stained with blood—but he had survived.
And then, the system spoke again.
New Quest Unlocked: Escape the Infected Zone.
Objective: Leave the city before the next wave begins.
Kai exhaled slowly. He looked out over the city—fires burned in the distance, screams still echoed through the night, and shadows of more creatures moved along the streets.
The awakening was far from over.
And now, the real fight was about to begin.